Accounting apparatus



F. THOMAS. 2,147,067

ACCOUNTING APPARATUS Feb. 14, 1939. 4

Original Filed Nov. 22, 1923 5 sheets sheet l Feb. 14, 1939.

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F. THOMAS ACCOUNTING APPARATQS Original Filed Nov. 22, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 14, 1939.

F. THOMAS 2,147,067

ACCOUNTING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 22, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 nna:

Patented Feb. 14, 1939 aoooun'rmc arraaa'ros Felix Thomas, New York, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y.,

tion of New York 8 corpora- Application November 22, 1923, Serial No. 676,237 Renewed January i6, 1934 17 Claims. (Cl. 235-613) In the accounting machine art machines have been developed in which provision is made for transferring amounts or totals from one accumulator to another. Such devices heretofore have been entirely of mechanical construction and have necessitated complicated structural arrangements. Furthermore, the mechanical complication of such devices is greatly increased when provision is sought for selectively transferring amounts from any of a plurality of accumulators to any other of a plurality of accumulators. Also so far as I am aware it has not been heretofore feasible to transfer from one accumulator to another and then to transfer back from the second accumulator to the first without reconstruction of the machine.

The present invention is directed to the c. provision of improved means for transferring totals are fully described in Lake Patent No. 1,379,268,.

and circuit details and control devices are set forth in Lake Patent No. 1,822,594, granted September 8, 1931. Subsequently the operations of the parts shown in Fig. 2 will be described.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 1a and 11), these dia grams illustrate both the electric circuits and such essential parts of the tabulator mechanism as are necessary to understand the operation of the machine.

In order that the underlying principle of my invention may be understood, it may be stated that in a tabulator of the Hollerith type the accumulator wheels are differentially controlled by clutching them to a constantly rotating shaft at diflerent times and unclutching the wheels at a fixed point in the machine cycle. The actuation of the clutches is effected by magnetic means controlled by circuits which in turn are estab-' lished at various times by perforations in the record cards. In this way the different amounts are entered on the accumulators. When printing is effected on Hollerith machines, the accumulators are provided with a number of stepped cams which are differentially positioned in accordance with the amount or amounts standing therein. When totals are to be printed a series of printing type are moved. Concurrently with this movement contact members are rocked downward to eventually contact with the stepped cams and thus establish circuits to suitable electromagnets which arrest the type elements at the exact time when a type of an amount corresponding to that set up on the accumulator is vat the printing line. Subsequently the type are struck by a hammer toward a platen and a record taken.

In the present invention I arrange to rotate the drive shaft of the accumulator devices during thetotal-taking cycle by the so-called reset or printing motor and during this cycle I utilize the normal so-called total printing circuits for controlling the clutching of the accumulator wheels of any desired totalizer to the drive shaft. In this the amount standing upon one totalizer is set up upon another totalizer. The operation being entirely electrical various plugging expedients may be resorted to which provide for ex-v treme flexibility of operation.

Other objects and advantages will hereafter be pointed out in the accompanying specification and claims and shown in. the drawings 'which by way of exemplification show one emimportant circuit connections and mechanisms Card feed and perforation reading means In the diagrams, Figs. 1, 1a and lb, 50 designates a stack of record cards which are adapted to be advanced one at a time by means of a picker 5i into engagement with the upper of the feed rolls 52. The feed rolls thereafter advance the card in the usual manner to a discharge stack not shown. Rolls 52 are driven by a gearing generally designated 53 which in turn is driven by a tabulating motor TM through the usual magneticallycontrolled clutch 54a. This clutch is controlled by clutch magnet 54. The cards are advanced past the upper brushes and contact blocks 5556 and thereafter pass lower brushes and contact blocks 5960. Brushes 55 are carried by a common bar 51 and brushes 59 by a common bar 58. The contact of brushes 55 and 5 9 with contact plugs 56 and 60 is made through the perforations in the cards. In the diagram only a few brushes are illustrated but it will be understood that these brushes may and usually do extend entirely across the card so as to cooperate with any desired columns therein. Upper and lower card levers 6I52 are provided, which card levers are respectively adapted to close upper and lower card lever contacts 83-64 during the passage of cards under the card levers. When cards are not under the levers the contacts are, opened. Suitable wires, here shown cabled and indicated at 6565, respectively connect the lower and upper brushes with plug sockets on the tabulator plugboard 254 (Fig. 1a). There is one set of sockets 61 for the various upper brush positions and in addition there are multiple sockets 68 for the lower brushes. The plugboard also includes multiple sockets 68 which are connected to the counter magnets 98 (Fig. 1b). In the diagram the entire plugboard is not shown but several plug sockets are indicated to show the plugging operations which may be made. In addition at one end of the plugboard there is shown a circuit diagram of the automatic control and group indicator unit. When certain columns are to be used for automatic controlling, plug connections are inserted between selected sockets 6'! and sockets 6'10 of the automatic control unit. If straight controlling is being performed without group indicating the connection is completed between plug sockets 680 and 68. On the other hand, if group indicating on any desired columns is desired, connections may be made between the selected sockets 69D and plug sockets 69. On columns in which'there is to be neither control nor group indicating but simply counter energization suitable plug connections are made directly between sockets 68 and 69. If desired, the selected sockets 68 may be utilized on columns which are plug connected for automatic controlling. In this case plug connections will be made between 6l and 610, 68 and 680, and 68 and 69. On the other hand, connections could be made from 61 and 610, '68 and 688 and from 690 to 68.

The above description briefly indicates some of the principal plugging operations which may be employed but it will be understood that other combinations may be used as will appeal to the individual operator of the machine or in accordance with the particular tabulating operation which is to be performed.

Control and group indicator unit The so-called automatic control circuit between the upper and lower brushes when plugged in, as above described, includes contacts H and magnets 12. The function of contacts 1| is to open after energization of magnets 12 and take the are from the upper brushes. The energization of magnets 12 is adapted to close corresponding contacts 13 to thereby establish the socalled control circuit 14 which extends the cycle serially through all the contacts 13. This circuit is established on each card cycle so long as cards do not change and when the control perforations in two successive cards agree. If all of the magnets 12 are not utilized such contacts 13 as are left out of circuit are bridged by a plug connection 15 extending from terminal 15a, which plug connection is inserted into one of the sockets 16 (see Fig. la) which is connected to contacts 13. This enables any number of columns to be used for controlling. If all columns are to be used for controlling the plug 15 is inserted in the unwired plug socket 1611. Contacts 11 are the usual group indicator contacts which function to interrupt the counter circuit after the passage of the first card to suppress the adding in of further amounts upon the tabulating counter used for indicating only until the groups change. These contacts and their operation are common in tabulating machines and for further explanation reference may be made to Hollerith Patent No. 1,087,061.

General features of circuit diagram It may be explained that in tabulating machines of this type it is common to utilize cam contact devices for controlling certain circuit operations. For clarity in the circuit diagram all cam contactdevices which are operated in unison and on common shafts are given similar reference numerals. For instance, there is a group of contacts marked P-l, P-2, P3, mounted on one shaft, another group marked C-l, C-2, C3, etc., on another shaft and so on. All contact cams are insulated from each other and from the shaft upon which they are mounted. In placing these cams on the diagram they have been located without regard to their mounting upon common shafts in order to obviate the complications of the circuit connections. Similarly for clarity in the diagram it is necessary to place certain contacts at points remote from their controlling magnets. In this case the operating magnet, if possible, is indicated in dotted lines adjacent the contacts. In addition, on the diagram the tabulating and reset motors marked TM and RM respectively, have been duplicated. On the diagram there are also certain circles marked with numerals which indicate binding posts as actually utilized on the machine. These binding posts will be referred to in the tracing of the circuit connections.

Current for the entire tabulator is supplied from a suitable source through switch 8|, which,

when closed, supplies current to left side of line 82 and right side of line 83.

- Tabulator operation It may be explained that prior to starting up of the tabulator a resetting cycle must be carried out as will hereinafter be described. This resetting cycle which may have taken place at the end of the last card run has energized relay 84 which closed contacts 86 (Fig. 1). To start the tabulator the operator depresses start key 88. A circuit is established from left side of line, through tabulating motor TM, clutch magnet 54, motor relay 85, start key now closed, relay contacts 88 now closed, emergency stop key 81 now closed, to binder post 9 thence through cam contacts P-5 now closed, binder post Ill, tabulator contacts 88 now closed and to binder post H on right side of line. The above operation has started up the tabulating motor TM and energized clutch magnet 54 and engaged the one revolution clutch 54a to thereby cause cards to be fed through the machine as heretofore described.

After the initiation of the cycle by the start key, motor relay attracts its armature and establishes a stick circuit to keep the motor in operation. From the contact made by the armature of relay 85 a line extends to the upper card lever contacts I and another line is connected to the cam contacts T-I. After the machine has operated to a certain amount cam contacts T--I close and establish a circuit tohinder post 9, As soon as the upper card lever contacts are closed, another holding circuit is established through the contacts I to the terminal Oil, thence through contacts 86, stop key M and to hinder post 9. The card lever contacts 63 maintain the operation of the tabulator while contacts T-I open once per card cycle provided relay 8! remains energized. In.addi-' tion to the upper card lever circuit just described there is a circuit to the lower card lever contacts 64. These contacts 84 are connected to hinder post and also to binder post II, and, when closed by the passage of cards past the lower card lever, establish certain control circults to the cam contacts T! and T-l (Fig. which will be hereinafter described.

The tabulator is now in operation and cards successively pass the upper and lower brushes.

' As heretofore explained, so long as these cards agree in their control perforations, control circuit I4 is made at each card cycle. This circuit I4 is adapted to maintain the tabulator in operation so long as card groups agree. on the resetting operation, contacts GI-Il (group indicator II) make. Upon the closure of these contacts current flows from left side of line through relay 84, control relay 9|, contacts GI-Il now closed, thence to hinder post 9 and back to source at the right side of line; After control relay II is energized a stick circuit is established through the relay armature of SI, cam contacts C--I and back to binder post 8. Cam contacts C-I break once per card cycle but during the time these contacts break there is a second holding circuit through relay armature of SI, thence through contacts L-l, and through contact control circuit I4, through control contacts I! (Fig. la) and back through I4 to binder post 9. The circuit just traced including cam contacts C-I and H control the operation of the machine until'card groups change. 61-40 open up after the first card has been tabulated. The circuit is then maintained at all times except for a fragmentary part of the cycle by the cam contacts C-l. During the time that CI is opened L-3 is closed and If the control circuit II is energizedat this time the operation of themachine continues. If it is not energized, the operation is interrupted since the control relay ll will be deenergized thereby deenergizing the motor control relay ll. ContactQ'GI-IO are controlled by a group indicator magnet 02. These contacts break upon the energization of this magnet which takes place during the initial part of the card cycle.

The group indicator magnet 82 .is controlled by a circuit traced as follows from left side of line through magnets 02, wire 03, cam contacts 0-2 to cam contactsT-I, T--I, connected in common through these contacts, through wire I to binder post II, thence to lower part of contact 2-4 now closed, binder post I I, lowercard levercontacts 64 now closed, and back through binder post 0 to right side of line.

The cam contacts T-! and T-3 are drivenin unison with the tabulating motor while cards are feeding through the machine. These contacts establish the circuit just traced during a certain part of the cycle. The contacts, furthermore, establish a current supply for the common bar ll of the lower brushes by means of a connecting wire I! which is provided for this purpose. The upper brushes ll receive their current through a wire 08 which is connected directly from the common bar 1.

Counter section I The counter section of the machine is of the type shown in the copending application of Clair D. Lake, Serial No. 589,078, flied June 17, 1922, now issued as Patent No. 1,534,531. Each counter section (Fig. 1b) includes counter magnets whichcontrol the tabulating counters common contacts T4, contacts Ill which'are only closed when listing and thence through wires I" and 94 back to binder post I3. The contacts III! are arranged to be closed only when listing. The purpose of the contacts is to prevent the operation of certain of the printed magnets I02 during times when straight tabulating operations are being performed and when there is no listing. This prevents the wearing out of the parts which are controlled by the magnets I III. In other words, during listing operations all of the magnets I02 are adapted to actuate latch 21! (Fig. 4). But this is not necessary during tabulating operations only. To render these parts inoperative during tabulating 'operations the contacts I05 are opened.

Referring to the counter bank marked I it will be noticed that the circuit through wire IOI leads to a switch member I01. On the 2d bank there is a similarswitch member I08. If counters on the banks marked I and 2 are to be used for straight tabulating the switches, are thrown direct to the left hand side of the line as shown. ,If, on the other hand, one or the other of these counters or both are to be used for group indicating, one or the other or both switches can be thrown to an opposite position, as indicated in dotted lines. With this position of the switches,

wires IGI are connected to a line I from which connection is made from left side of line to contacts GIl or the reset magnet contacts Ill. Contacts 01-. are the group indicating contacts which close during the reset cycle and open after the passage of the first card as is usual with these,

trolled by these stepped cams. Contact device'svIII rock into engagement with the stepped cams and depending upon the time of closure upon contact with the cams energize the printer magnets III at the proper time in the cycle to print devices III for each counter are controlled individually for each counter and are adapted to be rocked into contact with the stepped cams by means of a rock shaft III. The contact devicesthe total standing on the counter. The contact are actuated by means of sleeves H4 which are coupled to the shaft by clutches H5 controlled by magnets H6. One clutch H5 and magnet H6 are provided for each different counter section l--23, etc. Rocking of shaft H3 is secured by a linkage H'I which is actuated by a suitable cam H8 driven by the reset motor during total printing operations and transfer total operations.

The circuit for printing totals or group numbers concurrently with the printing of totals and also for controlling transfer of total operations is controlled from contacts H2. These contacts are connected to common bars I21 through certain switch devices which are utilized in transfer of total operations. Common bars I21 are connected to wires ilil through contacts I28 which are in turn controlled by bell crank switch members I23. Contacts I28 are opened when the counters are disengaged from the resetting mechanism. Contacts I28 may be short circuited by suitable switches l28a when desired.

Cam contacts C3 (Fig. 1) are provided to maintain the tabulating motor TM in operation after the opening of the card lever contacts 63 when the last card of a stack has passed the upper card lever. The functions of these cam contact devices is to carry the last card of the stack down past the lower brushes in order to permit the accumulation or the printing of the amounts therefrom. Cam contacts C3 operate in conjunction with cam contacts T--l and are parallel ergize clutch magnet 54 once per card cycle by providing a short circuit path around same.

This clutch magnet also causes the machine to stop at the well known D position. This D position is the normal stopping position of the machine in which the sensing brushes rest on the leading edges of the cards next to be analyzed, so that upon resumption of operations the 9 index point positions will immediately be sensed. The rest of the machine is correspondingly synchronized to respond to such analysis.

When a card group changes the control circuit 14 is interrupted. Then, upon opening of the cam contacts C-l, control relay 9| and motor control relay 84 are de-energized. Thereafter the tabulating operation is carried on until a card reaches the D position by the contacts I.r4 which close after motor control relay 34 has become deenergized thus allowing current to flow from the left side of the line through the tabulating motor TM, cam contacts L--4, center contacts I30 of relay 34, now closed, thence through stop key 8! closed, to binder post 3 and back to line. Slightly later in the cycle the contacts L-4 open and finally bring the tabulator to a stop at the D position. The contacts L-3 are in the nature of safety contacts and serve to prevent the blowing of fuses when the machine is being plugged up by opening the circuit through 14. Such blowing of fuses heretofore occurred when the plug 15 was touched against one of the plugs inserted in one of the sockets 510 when the tabulator was stopped and no cards in the machine.

Resetting and printing operations After the tabulaton of the group is completed the resetting and printing of a total may be effected. This operation can be initiated manually or automatically. If automatic initiation is desired, switch 232 is first closed. The cam contacts Ll then automatically close Just as the tabulator comes to rest to establish a circuit to the resetting motor RM traced as follows-from left side of line, through binder post I, reset motor RM, binder post 2, reset clutch magnet 233, binder post 3, contacts 234 which are closed at all times when clutchmagnets 54 are deenergized. binder post 4, contacts L-l, binder post 5, switch 232, stop key 81, back to binder post 9 to the other side of the line. The energization of the reset clutch magnet 233 attracts its armature and closes contacts 235 which establish a holding circuit for the reset magnet 233 traced as follows-from binder post 2, reset clutch magnet 233, through contacts 235, binder post 5, thence through contacts L 2 now closed, up to binder post Ill and back to the right side of the line. While reset motor RM is rotating and reset magnet 233 energized, a suitable clutch member 25i (Fig. lb) will couple the drive shaft from the reset motor RM to two gear discs 252, 253. Gear 252 has part of its teeth cut away so that when it is rotated its driving effect upon gear 254 takes place during the last half of the cycle and through a gear 254 rotates a reset shaft 255 and resets any counters which are selected for resetting to zero. Gear 253 is utilized for driving a gear 256 which through clutch 251 during total transferring operations, drives the main driving shaft 253 for the counters during resetting operations. Gear 253 drives gear 256 which through clutch 251 drives shaft 258. Prior to the resetting of the counters the printing of the total standing upon the counters or the group numbers thereon is effecfed. For effecting this'printing the stepped cams I H heretofore mentioned are utilized. During such printing operations cam contacts P2 and P3 shown in the lower part of the diagram (Fig. 1a) serve to supply current to thecommon bars I03 and I25 of the counter and printer magnet sections. The common circuit from the right side of line to the cam contact devices P2 and P-3 leads through a nontotal printing switch 231, which, when opened, suppresses the printing of totals. The actual printing operation is controlled from the stepped cams I l I previously mentioned. In addition to printing a total a supplementary asterisk circuit 238 (Fig. 1b) is provided with an indivdual magnet lll2b for each counter. Contacts 239 control this asterisk circuit to permit the energization of M2!) at the times totals are printed. During resetting and total printing operations provision is made for preventing the starting up of the main tabulator control circuits until the printing and resetting is completed. This is effected through cam contacts P5 (Fig. l) which interrupt the main circuit of the tabulator from binder post 3 to the right side of line. The cam contacts PI serve at the proper time in the resetting cycle to establish a circuit 240 to binder post 2 to shunt out the reset magnet 233. These contacts serve to maintain the reset motor RM in operation until the end of the reset cycle and upon being opened interrupt the resetting operation bringing the reset motor to rest. Just before the resetting operation is completed, upper contacts P4 close. The closure of these contacts, provided the automatic start switch 2 is previously closed, establishes a circuit through motor relay 35 to restart the tabulating operation upon the next group. This circuit is traced as follows from left side of line, through tabulator motor TM, clutch magnet 54, relay 85, auto start switch 24l closed, binder post 1, emergency stop key 242, binder post 8, the upper of contacts P4 now closed, binder post ll, lower card lever contacts 64 closed, if there are still cards in the machine, and thence back to binder post 6., The purpose of this circuit just traced is to permt the automatic starting of the tabulator if there are additional cards in the machine. If switch 2 is open, the tabulator is not started automatically but may be restarted by depressing start key 86. The automatic start-up contacts, namely, the upper of contacts P -4 break immediately after the usual holding circuits are established for the operation of the tabulator, and at the time the P group of cams come to rest these upper contacts are open, as shown.

If automatic total printing and resetting is not desired, switch 232 may be opened and the initiation of resetting effected by the depression of the reset key 283. If, at any time, it is desired to stop the machine, emergency stop key 81 or normal stop key 242 is opened. In practice in the machine these keys are so connected that the opening of emergency stop key 81 will open stop'key 242. The opening of the stop key 81 opens the circuit to contacts 86. Thereafter the machine will stop at the D position upon the opening of cam contacts T-l. If the emergency stop key 81 by chance were pressed at the end of a card group and the tabulator were set for automatic starting up, it might happen that the tabulator would automatically start up upon the closure of the emergency stop key. For this purpose the stop key 242 with its control contacts is provided and these contacts are connected with stop key 81 so as to interrupt the automatic start circuit under these conditions.

Contacts .258 are those commonly used in machines of this type for preventingthe operation of the tabulating machine at its excessive speeds when listing. These contacts 250 are located in the transmission device which is interposed between the tabulating motor and the tabulating machine. The arrangement is such that when the machine is adjusted for listing contacts 88 are opened. It is then impossible to start up and operate the machine unless contacts 250 are closed and such closure can only be effected by adjusting the transmission device to operate the tabulator at the lower listing speed.

The shaft 258 (Fig. 1b) is the main driving shaft of the tabulator. This shaft through suitable gearing generally designated 262 is adapted to drive the clutch shaft 263. The clutches 268 are of the form usually used in tabulating ma chines and through suitable gearing drive the counter wheels 265. During the normal operation of the tabulator when items are being accumulated or set up upon the accumulative counters in accordance with the perforations of passing record cards, the shaft 258 is driven from the tabulating motor (note Fig. 1), in which this i shaft is shown projecting from one of the gears 53. Disposed on the shaft 256 is a clutch 26f (Fig; lb) which is adapted to clutch thetabulator motor to the main portion of the shaft 258 which drives the counters. When clutch 26i is disengaged this shaft 258 may be driven by the reset motor provided clutch 251 is engaged. It will be understood that drive from the reset motor is only efiected when transfer of total operations are to take place.

Disposed upon reset shaft 255 are a number of clutch devices 266 (see also Fig. 3) These clutch devices are of the form usually used in tabulators and when disengaged are adapted to throw out the reset mechanism for the particular counter with which they are associated.

Referring now to Fig. 3This .flgure shows a top plan view of the printing tabulator having counters generally designated 1,2, 8, 4 and 5 and printing sections generally designated 6. This flgure also shows the T, C, L and P cams in their usual positions. The printing section of the machine which is substantially of the form shown in the aforementioned Lake patent, includes a platen roller 261 (see Fig. 4), and type carriers 268, each having a plurality of type 269. There is also provided the usual hammer mechanism 218. In the operation of the machine, type carriers 268 are displaced in unison with the passage of cards through the machine or in unison with the total-takingoperations. Then upon the energization of printer magnet I82 the latch 213 is tripped thus arresting type carrier 268 with the proper type at the printing line. These features being well knownin the art require no further detailed description.

With the usual tabulator the circuit from the total control contacts H2 extends directly to common bars I21. When it is desired to transfer totals a suitable switch mechanism must be provided to break the circuit to the common bars i 21 and to establish a circuit to plug positions 214. A separate switch device is employed for each counter (Fig. lb). The details of this switch device isshown in Fig. 5. A suitable insulating block is slotted and provided at one side with 'wide contact lugs 215. These are directly connected to the controlling contacts H2. Multiple lugs 216 and 211 are provided at the opposite side of the block, the former connecting respectively to the common bars I21 and the latter being connected to the individual plug sockets 214. Disposed intermediate the contact blocks 215 and 216-211 is a slidable bar 218 carrying contact blades 219. The arrangement is such that with the slide 218 in upper position contact is established between 215 and 216. With the slide 216 in lower position contact is established between 215 and 211. The slide is normally maintained elevated by a spring 288 and is adapted to be lowered by energizing a magnet 28I.

As shown in Fig. lb there is one of these switch devices for each counter section. There are corresponding individual magnets 286 for each counter section. Magnets 286 are disposed in circuits which terminate at one end at plug sockets 283 and which, at the other end, extend to a line 284. The magnets tit previously referred to are disposed in similar circuits terminating at one end at plug sockets 285 and extending through contact devices 281 to a line 286. The contact devices 281 are connected with the reset clutch devices 266 so as to be closed when these reset'clutches are withdrawn to prevent the resetting of the counters.

Disposed in line 288 is a magnet 289, which, when energized, withdraws or disengages clutch 26L Disposed in a line 298, which, in eflect, is a continuation of line 284, is a magnet 2%, which,

when energized, is adapted to engage clutch 251.

Lines 290 and 288 extend upwardly, as shown in Fig. l, the latter connecting with one of a pair of contacts 292, which contacts are adapted to be closed by the armature of the clutch magnet 233,

when this magnet is energized, and the former means of plug connections 388, only one of which is here shown, plugs up the plug sockets 214 of the No. 2 counter with the corresponding denominational order sockets 69. Then a single, plug connection 38! is placed between plug socket 283 of the No. 2 counter and the socket 286 of the No. 3 counter. This last mentioned plugging between 283 and 288, in effect, connects magnets 289, 29!, H6 of the No. 3 counter, and 28! of the No. 2 counter in series, the circuit extending through the contacts 281 also. The reset clutch 288 of the No. 3 counter is then manually disengaged to thereby close contacts 281. The operator then presses the reset key 243 (Fig. 1) or if automatic total printing is desired the switch 232 will havebeen previously closed and resetting will be initiated automatically.

Just after the reset cycle starts contacts 292 (Fig. 1) will close supplying current to the line 288. Magnet 289 will be energized disengaging clutch 26!. Similarly magnet 29! will be energized engaging clutch 251. The circuit for magnets 289 and 29! is traceable as follows: From line 83 (Fig. 1), contacts 88, L 2, post Ii, contacts 292, wire 288, Figs. 1a and 2,.magnet 289, contacts 281, magnet II8, connection 38!, magnet 28!, wire 284, magnet 29!, wire 298, to other side of line 82. Shaft 258 will then at the proper time in the cycle, namely, the initial part thereof, be rotated by the reset motor RM. While this shaft is in rotation the contact devices I I2 of the No. 2 counter will take a reading of the stepped cams, III. Circuits will be established through the printer magnets I82 01' the No. 2 counter just as if an ordinary total was being printed. However, these circuits instead of extending directly to the common bars I21 and back to the left side of the line will fiow through the plug connections 888, through the multiple sockets 89, thence through the counter magnets 98 -of the No. 3 counter and back in the usual manner to the left side of the line. In this way the magnets 98 of the No. 3 counter will be energized at varying times in the machine cycle and the amount standing on the No. 2 counter will be set up on the No. 3 counter.

Concurrently in the printing section of the machine the printer magnets !82 corresponding to the No. 2 counter will be energized and print the transferred total. I! desired, there may be a printing of the transferred total on the No. 3 counter. To secure this result switches I28a of the No. 3 counter must have first been closed, otherwise the disengagement of the reset clutches 288 will have opened contacts I28, and prevented the printing. It maybe stated here that contacts I28 and 281 are both controlled in their positions by the corresponding reset clutch 288. When the clutch is disengaged contacts I28 are open and contacts 281 closed and vice versa. Ordinarily switches I28 would have been left opened and the transferred total would not have been printed on the record sheet which receives the records of the entries of the No. 3 counter. During this total transferring and printing operation the magnet II6 of the No. 3 counter has been energized thus disengaging clutch I I8 and preventing the rocking of the sleeve H4 and the lowering of contacts II2 onto the stepped cams I I of the No. 3 counter. If such contact devices II2 were not rendered inoperative at this time they would interfere with the movement of the stepped cams III as will be readily understood.

After the total transferring operation is com-,

pleted contacts 292 (Fig. 1) will open and the mainto it from any other counter.

chine will then be ready to tabulate in the usual manner from record cards entering items from the cards as desired.

It will be understood that the plug connections 388 and'38! can be placed intermediate any desired counters. For'example, after the amount is transferred from the No. 2 to the No. 3 counter and further entries received on the No. 3

counter from the record cards, the plug connections 388 can be inserted between sockets 214 of the No. 3 counter and sockets 69 of the No. 2! counter. Similarly the plug connection 38! {could be inserted in the socket 288 of the No. 2 counter and in socket 283 of the No. 3 counter. If the total transfer operation is then repeated amounts can be transferred back from the No. 3 counter to the No. 2 counter. Similarly entries from any counter can be transferred to any other counter, the mere replugging only being necessary to control the transfer of the total operation to the desired counter.

The contacts 281 heretofore referred to are in the nature of safety contacts and compel the withdrawal of the reset clutch 288 for any particular counter before entries can be transferred It is obvious that resetting should be suppressed upon the counter into which an entry is to be made, otherwise the amount would be first set up on the counter and then immediately removed therefrom by the resetting operation.

The transfer of total operation may be initiated by manual resetting or automatic. The device furthermore can be used in connection with the usual automatic control on a tabulator of this character whereby the plug connections may be set up for a given transfer of total, cards can be placed in the machine and upon the change of record cards a total will be taken automatically: This total will be transferred automatically and the tabulating will then commence running on a new card group. These and other expedients can be resorted to as desired by the operator. The apparatus is intended to be extremely flexible and permits a wide variety of tabulator operations including the transfer of totals which has not heretofore been possible upon machines of this class. The specific details of mechanism employed may be widely varied. The diagrammatic illustrations herein show a simple embodiment of the invention and can be widely departed from in various details.

Heretofore in the specification I have spoken of counters or accumulators. These devices may also be termed totalizers or in fact may be any I plained in detail how totals may be automatically transferred from one accumulator to another upon change in the group designating number. It will be appreciated, however, that such group designating number may differ between successive cards so that the transferring operation will transfer a single entry and the net result will be a cross-addition of the data in two fields of the same record card.

It will be understood that the apparatus is also capable of simultaneously transferring two totals from two totalizers to two other totalizers. For example, a total may be transferred from the No. 1 counter to the No. 2 counter and concurrently a transfer may be made from'the No. 3 counter to the No. 4 counter. For such operations it is only necessary to plug up the proper plug sockets and connect in the desired receiving totalizer-s.

Iclaim- 1. In an accounting apparatus, in combination with a plurality of totalizers each having a plurality of denominational order elements, means including electrical circuit devices selectable at the will of the operator for directly and concurrently transferring amounts from each element of any of said plurality of totalizers to any other of said plurality of totalizers under control of electrical impulses transmitted through said circuit devices.

2. An accounting machine having in combination with a plurality of totalizers, printing devices with provisions for printing columnar records. upon a record sheet, means for transferring totals from one totalizer to another and means eflective during a single transfer total operation for printing the amount of the total which is transferred in the one column corresponding to the totalizer from which the transfer is taken as well as in the other column corresponding to the totalizer to which the transfer is made.

3. In an accounting machine, a plurality of totalizers having denominational order elements and differential devices for concurrently entering the several orders of multi-denominational amounts'into said elements and electromagnetic means for controlling the differential devices, means for sensing the various denominational orders of one accumulator and circuits controlled thereby for controlling the differential devices of another accumulator to transfer totals from one to the other.

4. In a computing system, a plurality of accu- Q mulators, electrical means for. controlling the operation of the accumulators, including electrically controlled means for automatically transferring totals from one accumulator to the other at the end of a computation.

5. In an accounting apparatus, in combination with a plurality of totalizers each having means for sending and means for receiving amounts, means including electrical connections for con necting the sending means of i one totalizer to the receiving means of another for causing the transferring of amounts from said one totalizer to another, said connections being adjustable to connect the sending means of said other totalizer to the receiving means of the ilrst totalizer to cause the transferring of amounts from said other totalizer to the totalizer from which they were origi-' nally derived, and means for automatically initiating an operation of said transferring means at the end of a computation. 6. In a tabulating apparatus having a plurality of record card controlled totalizers and group control means for automatically interrupting the card control of the totalizer operation upon a change in the record card groups, means for effecting a transfer of one total from one totalizer to another, and means for automatically initiating an operation of said transferring means upon group change. n v

7. man accounting device in combination with a plurality of similar totalizer's, each having a plurality of denominational order elements, electrically controlled differential mechanism therefor adapted to enter and accumulate items on the totalizer-s, and means including sensing devices cooperating with the several elements of the totalizers for sensing the amounts standing therein and for controlling the operation of said differential mechanism for concurrently transferring the item from the elements of one totalizer to the elements of another.

8. In an accounting machine including in combination at least two record card controlled totalizers, entering means therefor controlled by a succession of record cards to enter amounts from each card, means for transferring the total from one totalizer to another, and means called into action automatically upon the completion of entries from all the cards for initiating the transfenof total operation. I

9. In an accounting machine, a plurality of totalizers having denominational order elements and differential devices for concurrently entering the several orders of multi-denominational amounts into said elements and electromagnetic means for controlling the differential devices, means for sensing the various denominational order elements of the totalizers, and means including electrical circuit devices selectable at the will of an operator to connect the sensing means of one totalizer with the electromagnetic means controlling the differential devices of another to cause the transfer of a total on any selected totalizer directly to any other totalizer.

10. In an accounting machine having record analyzing means, a plurality of totalizers, entering means for each, and means controlled by the analyzing means for effecting operation of thetotalizers in accordance with records, means for reading one totalizer, devices controlled by the reading means for controlling the entering means of another to effect transfer of an amount, and means brought into operation after each entry into the first totalizer for initiating the operation of the said amount transfer.

11. In an accounting machine having a plurality .of record controlled totalizers, group control means responsive to a group change in the records which control the totalizers, and means 4 for taking a printed total of the amount standing on one totalizer, the combination with means for transferring the amount from one totalizer to another totalizer, and means controlled by said group control means for initiating an operation of "5 said transferring means.

12. In a machine of the class described, a sensing station for analyzing a single record card having a plurality of data-representing fields, means for moving a record card past said station, a plurality of entry receiving devices each having a of an entry into each of said entry receiving devices forinitiating an operation of said com- 00 bining means.

13. In a' record controlled accounting machine, card analyzing devices for-concurrently analyzing a plurality of card fields of a single record card I for data designating index points, an accumulator 5 I controlled by part of said analyzing devices to receive .the amount contained in one card field, storage means controlled by another part of said analyzing devices to receive the amount contained in another card field, and means effective after the entries into said accumulator and storage device for automatically adding together the amounts therein to obtain a cross-addition of the amounts in the card fields.

14. In a record controlled accounting machine,

card analyzing devices for analyzing a plurality of card fields of a single record card for data designating inde': points, an accumulator controlled by part of said analyzing devices to receive the amount cont ained in one card field, storage means controlled by another part of said analyzing devices to rece we the amount contained in another card field, 81d means eifective after the entries into said accumulator and storage device for automatically adding together the amounts therein to obtain a cross-addition of the amounts in the card field s.

15. In an accounting machine, a plurality of similar totalizers, each having a plurality of denominational orders of electrically controlled differential mechanism, the orders of mechanism of each totalizer being concurrently operable to enter an amount therein, separate means for each totalizer and cooperating therewith to sense the,

amount therein, means for selectively connecting the sensing means of any totalizer to the differentialmechanism of any other totalizer and means for rendering the selected sensing means eflective to concurrently control the operation of the orders of the selected diiferential mechanism in accordance with the amount sensed.

16. In a machine of the class described, a totalizer, a storage device, analyzing means for con currently analyzing amounts in a pair of fields of a record card, means controlled by a part of said analyzing means, for entering the amount contained in one of the fields of the card into said accumulator, means controlled by another part of said analyzing means for entering the amount contained in the other of the pair of fields of the card into said storage device, transferring means controlled by said storage device for transferring the amount therein to said accumulator to obtain a cross addition of the amounts in said pair of fields and card controlled means for initiating an operation of said transferring means after the card has been analyzed.

17. The invention set forth in claim 6 in which resetting mechanism is provided and normally operative as an incident to said transferring operation to reset the totalizer from which a transfer is effected, and selectively settable means to disconnect said totalizer from said resetting mechanism whereby the amount transferred will also be retained on the totalizer from which it is transferred.

FELIX THOMAS. 

